Pet Sitters Blog

Keep Christmas tree light cables out of reach or get a cable guard they can’t chew through, because they will try!

Vacuum regularly to reduce the risk of pine needles being ingested by your pets
Poinsettias, mistletoe, holly and the sap from your Christmas tree are all extremely toxic to cats and dogs

Don’t give chocolate to your pets, it contains the obromine which is toxic to dogs and cats.

Remember, edible decorations on your tree, will be sniffed out and pulled down. Dogs have 300 million receptors in their noses, humans have 6 million, proportionally 40 times greater than us!!

If you think that a gift contains food or chocolate, don’t leave it under the tree. Your pets might open it before you get the chance and eat something that’s dangerous to them.

Don’t give your pet cooked turkey or chicken bones as they can splinter and cause serious injury to your pet. Raw chicken/turkey wings, on the other hand are fine and good for your dog’s teeth and digestion, it’s a natural part of their diet. These must be ‘fresh or carefully unfrozen’, to avoid the risk of salmonella.

Most important of all, have a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
If our sitters are looking after your home and your pets, for the Christmas and New Year period, you can be sure that your dogs and cats and of course any indoor pets, will be very safe and well loved by our sitters whilst you are away on holiday.

A very Happy Christmas to all our loyal clients and to all pet lovers out there too!

This month we are paying tribute to one of our client’s much loved pets, Todd the Labrador, they lost him a couple of months ago; was a very special boy and is very much missed by his owners.

Our pet sitter Vanessa is the sitter who mainly cares for this client’s pets, was very upset too; our sitters grow to love the pets that they have cared for over a number of years and the pets love them back.

I think that this photograph, sent to us by our client, is quite poignant, the light caught by the camera looks just like a star, which this lovely dog certainly was.

Please remember to use the tick removal tool to “twist” when removing ticks from your cats and dogs; leaving the head in can cause a bad infection.

There are so many good products available now, from your vet or good pet shops; I prefer the monthly application between the neck and shoulders. If you have a feisty cat, then a tablets are very effective.

I hope our wonderful weather continues into July, who knows, we may see more butterflies this year, I do hope so.

We hope all the winter viral pests have finally left the building! Some of our pet sitters and here at the office too, we have been hit with the Aussie flu this year.

This is our sitter Bob having a nap after a long walk, plus a surprise cuddle from Maya the Labrador, I wonder if she managed to slip in along side without waking him!

Bob managed to escape the winter illnesses this year, maybe because of all the walking with his four legged friends, lots of fresh air could be the key or maybe you are just very strong and healthy Bob!

As you see from the photo we are currently having a big sort out in the office; Polly promised she would help, hmmm!

See you again in March, when Spring will definitely be well on its way.

Hello to all readers! This month we are touching on the tricky subject of overweight pets, cats in particular.

Believe it or not, over 42% of our much loved felines are overweight; vets would tell you that more than half the cats they treat need to lose weight. This could be partly due to the rising number of “house cats”, resulting in cats not getting the outdoor exercise and stimulation they need.
Cats kept indoors suffer more stress and also some behavioural issues on occasion. They need added stimulation to make up for the lack of outdoor fun and, most definitely keep their food levels at an appropriate level, way less than an active outdoor cat would have.

One of the most common obesity related problems in cats is diabetes, overfeeding being the leading cause. Other related illnesses are urinary problems, joint issues and heart disease.

Just look at our magnificent client, Charley (right). What a perfect specimen he is, slender and glowing with health; Charley is an African Savannah crossed with a domestic cat.

If your cat is overweight, then see these tips below, to help your cat lose weight and follow in Charley’s footsteps, isn’t he just beautiful?

Portion sizes

Stop feeding your cat so much; remember 2 or 3 extra pounds for a cat is equivalent to 40 pounds in a human being.

Don’t suddenly cut the portions drastically however, this could create liver problems. Ask your vet, he will help with guidance on feeding your cat the correct amount and cutting down gradually.

Exercise

If you have a house cat, encourage lots of play; use a torch, cats love to chase the beam of light on the floor. Make a “ mouse on a stick “ toy, using a catnip mouse and some string. Even better get a cardboard box, with holes cut in it and watch how your cat will love trying to work his way out, where you will be waiting, for even more fun and games with said “mouse on a stick.”